Bobcat Bulletin

Celebrity Readers Event
📅 Wednesday, March 5th | ⏰ 9:00 - 9:45 AM

Students will get a special morning as we welcome local community leaders into our classrooms as Celebrity Readers! These distinguished guests will introduce themselves and share a few short stories with your students in two engaging reading sessions. Each session will last approximately 20 minutes, giving students the opportunity to connect with and be inspired by our guest readers.

Let’s make this a memorable experience for our students! 📚✨

Please reach out to our counselor, Chelsie Klaine with any questions!

Support Taylor Hicks Elementary through Tax Credit Donations

Dear Families,

I'd like to share an important opportunity to support Taylor Hicks Elementary School and benefit from a tax credit at the same time.

Arizona law provides a unique opportunity for taxpayers to make contributions to public schools and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on their state taxes. By donating to our school, you can help fund extracurricular activities, field trips, and other enrichment programs that significantly enhance our students’ educational experience. Your contribution ensures that we can continue offering these vital programs, which are often not fully supported by regular school funding.

Here’s how it works:

1. Eligibility: Any Arizona taxpayer can make a donation, whether you have children attending the school or not.
2. Tax Benefits: Individuals can contribute up to $200, and married couples filing jointly can contribute up to $400. You will receive this amount back as a tax credit, reducing the taxes you owe to the state dollar-for-dollar.
3. Direct Impact: 100% of your donation goes directly to Taylor Hicks Elementary School, supporting the programs that matter most to our students and enriching their educational journey.

By making a tax credit donation, you are helping to provide our students with opportunities that extend beyond the classroom, fostering their creativity, teamwork, and personal growth. Whether it’s helping fund an educational field trip, supporting the habitat learning space, or ensuring that every child has the chance to participate in extracurricular opportunities, your donation makes a lasting difference in their lives.

To contribute, simply visit the click the button below and select Taylor Hicks Elementary School as the recipient. It’s quick, easy, and incredibly impactful. Thank you for considering this meaningful way to support our students while also receiving a tax benefit. Together, we can continue to make Taylor Hicks Elementary a place where every student thrives!

Warm regards,

Kevin Hilton
Principal
Taylor Hicks Elementary School
kevin.hilton@prescottschools.com

Second Semester Clubs are underway. The students are doing many wonderful things. Please see the pick up locations posted in the next section of the Bulletin.

Side Gate Pick Up

Chess Club

Tennis Club

Readers Have Fun

Front Entrance

Board Game Mania

Coloring Time

AR reading

Literature Study

Bus Lane Pick Up

Newspaper Club

Math Concepts

Homework/Tutor

Side Gate Pick Up

3rd Grade Math Tutor

3rd Grade Math Games

Reading Concepts

Front Entrance

Disney Fan Club

Perler Beads

Learning Center

Bus Lane

Phonics/Decode Club

3rd Grade Cooking Club

2nd Grade Math Tutor

Side Gate Pick Up

Cheer Club

Garden Club

Front Entrance

Fun With Phonics

Story Time

Bus Lane Pick Up

Newspaper Club

Math Concepts

Side Gate Pick Up

Reading Concepts

Crafty Crafters Club

Basketball Club

Front Entrance

Writing Workshop

Building Club

Lego Club

Bus Lane Pick Up

2nd Grade Math Games

AR Reading

4th Grade Cooking Club

On behalf of the Taylor Hicks PTA, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous Platinum sponsorship. Your support plays a vital role in enriching the educational experiences of our students and helping to fund important school programs and events.

We are incredibly grateful for your continued partnership and commitment to our school community. Your sponsorship not only enhances our PTA efforts but also shows the strength of community collaboration.

Thank you once again for your generosity and for being a valued supporter of our school.

Attention PUSD parents and guardians: Have you ever considered supporting your child's school by serving as a substitute teacher? As a substitute teacher, you can select which schools you work in, the subjects or grade levels you want to support, and the days that work with your schedule. Our Teachers and Principals would love to have you serve as substitutes in their schools.

Substitute teachers and paraprofessionals earn $121 - $131/day depending on training.

Substitute teaching positions require a Bachelor's degree and IVP Fingerprint clearance card.

More details and an application can be found HERE.

We hope you consider supporting our students and staff by becoming a Substitute teacher!

Dear Families,

At Taylor Hicks Elementary, we are committed to providing a strong foundation for every student’s academic, social, and emotional growth. One of the most important factors in achieving this success is consistent school attendance. Did you know? Attendance is just one of many factors that can affect a school letter grade issued by the state.

Why Attendance Matters:

• Academic Success: Research shows that students who attend school regularly are more likely to excel in reading, math, and other subjects. Each day builds on the previous one, so frequent absences can disrupt learning and lead to gaps in understanding.
• Building Habits: Establishing a habit of good attendance in elementary school sets the stage for success in middle school, high school, and beyond. It fosters responsibility, resilience, and a commitment to education.
• Social Development: School is not just about academics. It’s a place where students build friendships, practice teamwork, and learn essential communication skills. Regular attendance ensures they don’t miss out on these crucial experiences.

What You Can Do:

• Set a Routine: Establish consistent bedtimes and morning routines to make getting to school on time easier.
• Plan Ahead: Schedule appointments and vacations outside of school hours whenever possible.
• Communicate: If your child is feeling unwell or facing challenges that impact attendance, please contact the school so we can support you.

Our Commitment to You:
We understand that occasional absences may be unavoidable. When they occur, our team is here to help your child catch up on missed learning. By working together, we can ensure every child reaches their full potential.

Thank you for your partnership in making attendance a priority. Together, we can help our students develop a love for learning and the skills they need for a bright future.

Kevin Hilton
Principal
Taylor Hicks Elementary

Dismissal Guidelines – Your Cooperation is Appreciated

Dear Families,

We kindly ask for your assistance in ensuring a smooth dismissal process. Please review the following information carefully:

Dismissal Procedures

Several classes exit through the front doors to their designated pick-up areas. To help us ensure safety and efficiency:

• Wait Areas: If you are picking up your student, please wait on the blacktop or the sidewalk near the habitat (garden area).
• Clear Pathways:
  • Kindergarten students line up near the benches.
  • 2nd-grade students transition to the front lawn.
  • Keeping these areas clear helps us guide students to their locations more effectively.
• Dismissal Times:
  • Monday-Thursday: 2:20 PM
  • Fridays: 1:20 PM
  • Students will not be released before the dismissal bell.

Pick-Up Guidelines

• Car Pick-Up:
  • Please remain in your vehicle while in the pick-up line.
  • Staff will escort your student to your car and assist with loading to maintain traffic flow.
• Walk-Up Pick-Up:
  • Park in a designated spot and meet your child at their teacher’s check-out location.
  • Allow teachers to walk students to their designated pick-up zones before checking them out.

Designated Pick-Up Zones

• Kindergarten, Best 1, and Best 2: Front doors along the main building.
• 1st Grade: Blacktop area behind the playground gates.
• 2nd Grade: Brick wall along the front lawn.
• 3rd & 4th Grades: Taylor Hicks Drive gate. Please be mindful of others and follow the highlighted traffic pattern.

Important Reminder

If someone else is picking up your student:

• They must have a valid ID and be listed in PowerSchool as an approved pick-up person.
• Contact the office if you’re unsure about the approved list.

Thank you for helping us ensure a safe and organized dismissal for all students. Your cooperation makes a big difference!

We know that many families like to drop off and pick up their students on the first days of school. Once the year gets going that can change as your comfort level and schedules change. Please remember that if your plan for your student changes during the day to give the front office a call and dojo message the teacher.

Need Transportation to school? Click the link to register your child with our transportation department. This form must be completed online to register to ride the bus. Please make sure to complete this before the first day of school. This helps us make sure that your student makes it to the right bus after school. The earlier we can get this information, the easier it is to make sure that all students are safe, comfortable, and feeling confident in how they are getting home.

Kindergarten- 11:15-11:40

1st Grade 11:40-12:05

2nd Grade 11:50-12:15

3rd Grade 12:10-12:35

4th Grade 11:25-11:50

Please use this link to read and review our TH parent handbook. This handbook covers all the Taylor Hicks ES policies and procedures that you need to know about. You will find procedures such as: birthday policies, student check out procedures, nurse information, and much more!

Dear Taylor Hicks families,

We need your help! Our school will benefit tremendously by having all families complete the National School Lunch Program application. Many of our federal tax dollars do not come back to PUSD, and to Taylor Hicks Elementary, based on under-reporting of the needs in our community.

PUSD and Taylor Hicks ES participate in the National School Lunch Program, and offer breakfast and lunch to students every school day. Free or reduced-cost meals are available to qualifying families. The application process is safe, confidential, and simple. We encourage you to apply today because your school benefits!

Federal grant funds can provide additional programs and services in our schools. Eligibility for both federal and many privately-funded grants are determined in large measure by the number of our students who qualify for free or reduced meals. These programs can enhance our academic and after-school offerings. We may be able to offer Title I reading and math interventions, free after-school programs, and much more.

Even if your student does not take advantage of free or reduced-cost lunches at school, funding will still be awarded to Taylor Hicks based on our number of eligible families. Can I ask that you take a few minutes to help increase Taylor Hicks' opportunity for funding by completing the application today?